On this day in music history: August 5, 1977 -…

On this day in music history: August 5, 1977 – “Brick”, the second album by Brick is released. Produced by Phil Benton, Ed Seay and Brick, it is recorded at Web IV Studios in Atlanta, GA from May – June 1977. With a Gold selling album (“Good High”) and a Platinum selling single (“Dazz”) under their belts, the Atlanta, GA based R&B quintet Brick begin writing and recording their sophomore release. Moving away from the jazzier aspects of their first album, the band still maintain their funky driving edge, balanced with catchy and accessible hooks. The sessions produce another set of smoking grooves, led by the first single “Dusic” (#2 R&B, 18 Pop) released in tandem with the album in the late Summer of 1977. Much like its predecessor “Dazz”, “Dusic” recalls that hit, featuring all five band members singing together in unison. It becomes another top five R&B smash for Brick, and is their second and final top 20 single on the pop chart. However, it is the follow up that enjoys the longest lasting legacy from the album. “Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody” (#7 R&B, #92 Pop) primarily featuring Jimmy Brown on lead vocals, also becomes another instant R&B classic. The song is sampled by Philadelphia based rap group Three Times Dope on the track “Joe Familiar”, by Miami Bass artist Chilla Frauste on “The Mind in 1989. Though the best known use of "Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody” is by Kid ‘N’ Play in 1991, with the duo flipping the R&B/Funk classic into a new jack swing flavored rap/sung hybrid. “Dusic” is sampled a number of times also, by the likes of MC Hammer, Rodney O. & Joe Cooley, Schoolly D., Master P, Hi-C and Insane Clown Posse. Other tracks from Brick’s self-titled second album including the equally funky “Living From The Mind” (sampled by Yaggfu Front on “Lookin’ For A Contract” in 1993) and “We Don’t Wanna’ Sit Down (We Wanna’ Git Down)” (sampled by Luke Feat. 2 Live Crew on “Do The Bart”, Original Concept on “Gottanotha Funky Break 4 U Hit It!” and Toddy Tee on “Do You Wanna Go To The Liquor Store”) also become fan favorites and are also sampled. “Brick” becomes the band’s highest charting album overall, selling nearly a million copies in the US. The album goes out of print for many years following Bang Records shifting from independent distribution, to being distributed by, and eventually purchased and absorbed by CBS Records (now Sony Music Entertainment) in the early 80’s. It is reissued briefly on CD in 1997 by RSI Records. It is reissued again 2011 by Wounded Bird Records, with the single edits of both “Dusic” and “Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody” as additional bonus tracks. It is also reissued as part of a two-fer CD set with “Good High” on Cherry Red Records subsidiary Robinsongs Records in 2016. “Brick” spends two weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B album chart, and peaking at number fifteen on the Top 200.